The bond can be triggered after the consular officer has determined the applicant otherwise qualifies and is willing to issue, subject to the bond being posted. Planning should match visitor intent tightly. Short stays, itineraries, credible ties abroad and consistent documentation matter. Any plan that implies open-ended stay, informal work activity or repeated quick returns can create credibility issues and increase risk.The Department of State has expanded its B-1/B-2 Visa Bond Pilot Program, effective January 21, 2026, by adding a further set of nationalities to the program.
Where the program applies, a consular officer can require a visa bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 as a condition of issuing a B-1 business visitor or B-2 tourist visa.
The bond program does not replace the usual B visa eligibility standards. It operates as an additional compliance mechanism, with shorter visa validity, tighter travel parameters and refund conditions that depend on clean compliance and properly recorded departure.
What changes on January 21
From January 21, 2026, the Department of State is expanding the B-1/B-2 Visa Bond Pilot Program to cover additional nationalities. As a result, some B-1 business visitor and B-2 tourist visa applicants will be told at their consular interview that a visa bond is required as a condition of visa issuance.
Where the pilot applies, the bond will be set at $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, depending on the consular officer’s assessment of the applicant’s circumstances. The bond is not an alternative to the usual visa requirements and does not guarantee approval. It is an additional compliance measure applied after the officer has determined that the applicant otherwise qualifies for the visa.
Visas issued under the pilot are more restricted than standard B-1/B-2 visas. They are valid for a maximum of three months and permit only a single entry to the United States, which has practical consequences for travellers who would normally expect to make repeat or flexible trips.
Admission to the United States remains a decision for US Customs and Border Protection at the port of entry. In most cases covered by the pilot, admission is expected to be limited to a short period, typically up to 30 days, rather than the longer stays often granted to visitor visa holders.
The bond is designed to be refundable. Provided the traveler complies fully with the conditions of B-1/B-2 status and either departs the United States within the authorized period or files a timely and properly prepared application to extend stay or change status, the full bond amount can be returned.
Countries added to the visa bond program from January 21, 2026
The Department of State update states the following countries are being added from January 21, 2026:
| Country | Country | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | Angola | Antigua and Barbuda |
| Bangladesh | Benin | Burundi |
| Cabo Verde | Cote d’Ivoire | Cuba |
| Djibouti | Dominica | Fiji |
| Gabon | Kyrgyzstan | Nepal |
| Nigeria | Senegal | Tajikistan |
| Togo | Tonga | Tuvalu |
| Uganda | Vanuatu | Venezuela |
| Zimbabwe |
How the bond works and when it is requested
B-1/B-2 applicants from affected countries start the visa process in the usual way, including completing DS-160, paying the standard visa fee and attending a consular interview. The bond is not paid upfront as part of the initial application steps.
If the consular officer decides the applicant is otherwise eligible for the visa and is within the pilot, the officer will advise that a bond is required and will specify the bond amount, typically $10,000, with discretion to set $5,000 or $15,000 depending on the applicant’s circumstances. The visa application can then be held in a temporary refusal posture while the bond payment is made through the designated online payment process.
Visas issued under the bond pilot are limited in validity and use. The program guidance states that visas are valid for a maximum of three months and are single entry. Border admission remains discretionary, but the stated baseline for many cases is admission for up to 30 days.
As such, short-validity, single-entry visitor visa is not well-suited to repeat travel patterns, flexible itineraries or multi-stop business schedules that depend on re-entry.
Designated ports of entry and exit
The bond program ties compliance to entry and exit through designated ports. Travelers and employers should check the current designated port list before booking flights, because travel routing can affect whether departure is captured cleanly in government systems, which in turn affects bond refund outcomes.
Bond refunds and what triggers forfeiture risk
Bond repayment is tied to compliance. A full refund is generally available if the traveler complies with the conditions of B-1/B-2 status and either departs within the authorized stay or files a timely and properly prepared extension of stay or change of status request.
Noncompliance events that can put the bond at risk include overstaying, violating status conditions, failing to depart promptly after a denial of a timely filed extension or change request and other actions that the program treats as inconsistent with maintaining nonimmigrant status.
Refund timing and mechanics are operational issues, not just legal ones. Travelers should keep proof of travel, compliance and any filings, and employers should avoid assuming a refund will happen instantly.
Separate visa issuance restrictions can still apply
The bond pilot is not a workaround for other visa issuance restrictions. If a separate policy, proclamation or consular instruction limits B-1/B-2 visa issuance for a nationality, the existence of the bond program does not by itself create eligibility. Travelers and employers should treat these as separate questions and check both before investing time and cost into the visa process.
NNU Perspective
The bond can be triggered after the consular officer has determined the applicant otherwise qualifies and is willing to issue, subject to the bond being posted. Planning should match visitor intent tightly. Short stays, itineraries, credible ties abroad and consistent documentation matter. Any plan that implies open-ended stay, informal work activity or repeated quick returns can create credibility issues and increase risk.
For employers, the bond amount is significant, the visa validity is short, entry is single-use and routing constraints can complicate business travel logistics. That can disrupt client meetings, short-notice site visits and repeat travel required for project delivery.
Employers should also plan for employee relations pressure. A visa bond can feel punitive and unpredictable to employees, particularly when it is imposed late in the process at interview stage. Early screening of nationality-specific travel friction and realistic lead times can reduce failed trips, sunk travel costs and last-minute escalation.
Need Assistance?
If you are a traveler or an employer dealing with the visa bond program, advice can help confirm whether the pilot applies, what the bond amount is likely to be, how to plan travel within the program constraints and how to avoid mistakes that put refunds and future travel at risk. For guidance on your circumstances, book a telephone consultation to speak with one of our attorneys.
Author
Founder & Principal Attorney Nita Nicole Upadhye is a recognized leader in the field of US business immigration law, (The Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Who's Who Legal and AILA) and an experienced and trusted advisor to large multinational corporates through to SMEs. She provides strategic immigration advice and specialist application support to corporations and professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, artists, actors and athletes from across the globe to meet their US-bound talent mobility needs.
Nita is an active public speaker, thought leader, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals.